On the freedom in representing quantum operations

ORAL

Abstract

We discuss the effects of a gauge freedom in representing quantum information processing devices, and its implications for characterizing these devices. We demonstrate with experimentally relevant examples that there exists equally valid descriptions of the same experiment which distribute errors differently among objects in a gate-set, leading to different error rates. Consequently, it can be misleading to attach a concrete operational meaning to figures of merit for individual gate-set elements. We propose an alternative operational figure of merit for a gate-set, the mean variation error, and a protocol for measuring this figure.

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Presenters

  • Junan Lin

    University of Waterloo

Authors

  • Junan Lin

    University of Waterloo

  • Brandon Buonacorsi

    Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Canada, University of Waterloo

  • Raymond Laflamme

    University of Waterloo

  • Joel Wallman

    University of Waterloo, Quantum Benchmark, University of Waterloo, University of Waterloo; Quantum Benchmark Inc., Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo